Chapter Text
The flight back to Kamigoe was weirdly tense, everyone twitchy and nervous the whole time. When she'd quietly asked Jiji what was up he'd muttered that he'd tell her once they landed. She'd started to ask Jiji when she heard Zuma mutter something about there being no sharks this time and she decided that that memory could stay lost, actually.
"Zuma, I called your dad. He's working but he said that Daiki can stay with you guys for now. I'll ask around, see if we can figure out a way to get you back with your parents." Granny's hand was gentle on Daiki's shoulder, "Don't worry kid, no matter what we've got your back."
"T-Thank you, Miss Seiko. And I'm not worried, Zuma and Raiya will take care of me, and I'll take care of them too!"
"Don't worry Daiki-kun!" Momo shot him a thumbs up, "Granny is stubborn as hell and super tough, she'll figure something out!"
Daiki nodded, face set and serious as Jiji flailed for a cab. They piled in together, her and Vamola cramming into the back of the van with Daiki, Momo stared out of the window as they drove through Kamigoe, desperately searching for anything that might trigger her memories.
The section of Kamigoe Zuma lived in was more rundown than anywhere she remembered going with Miiko and Kei-san. More urban than the quiet of the shrine, none of it seemed familiar.
The van pulled up in front of a rundown looking apartment complex and they all poured out. Granny was sweaty, mouth tight at the corners with pain as she stared Zuma down.
"There shouldn't be any curse residue but if you notice anything weird come to the house. I'll be in contact soon about Daiki." Then she glared at all three of them, they snapped to attention. "And don't get involved in any more stupid shit for at least a month alright?! You damn kids are giving me wrinkles…"
With a careless wave, Granny headed back to the van. Momo met Zuma's stare and nodded, "Sorry that I don't remember ya, but I'll come back when I do. Introduce myself for real."
Zuma smiled, it was surprisingly boyish for such a mature looking face. "I'll be waiting then, tough girl."
He stepped closer, hand outstretched to shake hers, she reached out to meet him and Jiji grabbed her wrist.
"You're in this situation because of him anyway Momo," Jiji said lowly, "You don't owe him anything."
"W-What? I was ju-"
Zuma groaned, "You seriously still pulling this overprotective boyfriend BS dude? It's pissing me off for real."
Jiji stammered out something that was totally lost under Momo's screech of, "Boyfriend?!" She spun on her heel to scream back at Granny, "Granny am I dating Jiji?!"
"Momo, wait-"
"Oh my god," One hand covered her mouth and her other hand grabbed Vamola's wrist. "Is that why you came to Shimane? Because we're dating?!"
Jiji was shaking his head furiously, arms up in a big x, "Uh-uh, it ain't like that between us Momo. This guy's just being an asshole."
Relieved, Momo almost collapsed back against Vamola, "Damn. That freaked me out, bad enough havin' no memory. Having a boyfriend I don't remember would be way too much."
"I told you not to upset Jiji," Vamola scolded Zuma, arm wrapped solidly around Momo's shoulders. "Say sorry before I get mad sir."
Kazuma muffled a laugh as Zuma muttered an apology, cowed under Vamola's stern eyes.
"Get in the damn car, ya brats!" Granny hollared, "I wanna get home already!"
Flushed and refusing to meet her eyes, Jiji crawled into the back of the van, leaving the middle seats for her and Vamola. Daiki waved excitedly as they drove away, getting hauled up on Zuma's shoulders so he could keep waving as they rounded the corner. The roads widened into the familiar arcades and parks from her childhood, nothing that triggered any new memories, but instead reminded her of peaceful walks home.
"Damn I'm glad to be home." She muttered to Vamola, "This day's been exhausting."
"I'm tired," Vamola agreed with a sigh, "Wanna eat and then sleep."
Granny met her eyes through the rear view mirror, "I called Manjiro, he's a guy I trained a while back, to get him to order some food for us before we left the airport. We'll eat our fill and then get some rest. Jiji, you eatin' with us?"
He jumped, almost slamming his head into the roof of the car, "Ah, no. Thanks though. I should get home and see my folks, I didn't exactly give them notice that we were all leaving so."
Granny hummed in agreement, a soft, drowsy quiet filled the van. Momo could feel it when Vamola, who'd slumped over and fallen asleep almost as soon as Granny stopped talking, started drooling onto her shoulder. It was gross but she looked peaceful enough that Momo didn't wanna wake her.
The van rattled to a stop by the familiar torii, she would've sworn their house had never looked so warm and inviting. Vamola woke up as soon as Momo touched her, blinking the haze of sleep away before she brightened.
"Yes! Home!" With a wriggle, Vamola flung the door open and hopped out, an arm looped through her bag as she jogged across the yard.
Granny sighed in relief, handing the driver a stack of bills and easing her way out of the van. Momo darted around the van to meet her, bag slapping against her back, and tucked herself under Granny's arm.
"I gotcha," Momo muttered, "Let's get inside."
"I ain't some kinda invalid kid." Granny said even as she leaned a little harder into Momo's side.
She rolled her eyes, "Nah, you're just the old bag who got hurt and then checked herself outta hospital this morning. Sides, I know you haven't been taking your pain meds."
Granny stayed quiet before she said, "I don't trust them right now." In a soft voice.
"Huh?"
She tightened her arm around Momo, like a hug, and muttered, "Don't worry about it."
"Momo, Auntie Seiko," Jiji bowed, "I'm glad you're both okay. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help, with anything."
For the first time, Momo thought about how serious silly, goofy Jiji had been this whole time. He's worried, she realised, More than he's willing to show. Speechless, she nodded.
"Jin," Granny said tiredly, "Go home already. You've done more than enough, thank you."
"Auntie, what about Okar-"
"Master!" A voice called behind them, a guy in priest garb jogged out of the house and bowed formally, "It's good to have you back, and Miss Momo is normal sized again. Come inside from the cold."
Jiji grimaced, biting his lip as the guy, Manjiro she assumed, took over supporting Granny and led her into the house. She turned back to ask Jiji what he'd been about to say but he just shook his head and waved, hopping back into the van to head home.
For a moment she was blinded by the flare of headlights, wondering what Jiji had been about to say, and then she heard that guy calling out to her again. She added it to the pile of confusing things she'd heard about today and shuffled into the house, shoes kicked off messily as she slumped into the main room.
Unibrow guy had Granny settled on one of their floor chairs, it's low back padded with a cushion. "-sent him out to pick up the food," He was saying as she walked in, "He should be back soon, have you taken anything for the pain?"
"She hasn't." Momo said before Granny could try bullshitting, "She said she 'doesn't trust them,' and has been trying to ignore it but I know she's hurting."
"Master…" Unibrow guy said sternly. Under the force of their combined disapproving stares, and Vamola's when she came downstairs in fresh lounge clothes, Granny reluctantly downed a pill with some barley tea.
Vamola helped her grab the chabudai, dishes and chopsticks set out haphazardly as they waited for the food to arrive. Momo took a moment to look around, the big maneki neko figurine she'd convinced Granny to get as a kid was gone, the tatami looked fresh and the cups and bowls in the kitchen had multiplied.
Lost in thought, staring at the post she could've sworn used to have a dent from her slamming Nessie into it years ago, Momo almost didn't notice the rattle of the door opening. A choked gasp caught her attention and she turned. A boy, sweaty and panting, was standing in the genkan, his glasses were sliding down his nose and he was holding a cardboard box stuffed full of plastic bags.
Her heart thumped, a strange thrill running through her as she met his brown eyes. He started to say something through heaving breaths but she spoke first.
"Oh. My. God. Is that yakisoba?!"
Momo lunged, yanking the box out of his unresisting hands and greedily inhaling the savoury scent of soy sauce and grilled meat. The boy stuttered something as she stumbled to the table.
"Yesssss! C'mon, let's eat!" Humming happily to herself as she sorted through burning hot containers of noodles and meat, Momo only looked up when no one joined her at the table.
Vamola was standing next to glasses guy, one hand on his shoulder as he gaped at her. Something about her hand on him made her stomach turn, "M-Miss Ayase-"
"She doesn't remember kid." Granny called out, motioning him over. "Some kinda curse side effect, as far as we can tell she doesn't remember anything about the supernatural."
The boy went milk pale, swaying as he kicked off his shoes and collapsed, crawling over to kneel at Granny's side. "What? You mean she-" He looked at her, "You don't… Recognise me?"
"Oh! Are we friends or something?" Reluctantly, Momo left the food alone and planted her hands on the table, leaning into the boy's space as she studied his face. There was something there, aside from the way he made her heart race, a vague familiarity.
"We go to the same school, right? I think I've seen ya between classes and stuff. Your glasses are familiar… Sorry."
He ducked his head, the glare of the lights hiding his eyes. "…Oh. It's- It's not your fault, Miss Ayase."
The plastic cracked in the heavy quiet as Vamola loaded a plate and shoved it at the guy, "Takakura, eat. We will explain."
Her stomach flip-flopped as, Takakura, was that his name? Shifted from his kneel to sit, some instinct, probably from Granny's barked commands about hospitality growing up, had her pouring him a glass of barley tea as he picked up his chopsticks in a trembling hand.
His hands are bruised, she noticed nodding at his whispered thanks as she focused on filling her own bowl, And he's got calluses.
Momo ate quietly, letting Granny and Vamola handle explaining everything. Vamola had sat herself firmly at T-Takakura's side, poking him whenever he went too long without taking a bite. Momo tried not to feel… Something about the way Takakura slumped into Vamola's space as Granny spoke.
"So, everyone else. Zuma and Daiki, they're fine? It's just Miss Ayase?"
"Yep." Granny pulled out a cigarette, lighting it with a sigh, "The Uchide-no-Kozuchi should've removed her curse without any side effects but from what everyone's told me, Momo never made it to the shrine to have it removed. She woke up in the hotel I'd booked this morning normal sized and with no memory.
"The only one who was there is Momo and she can't tell us anything."
The rest of dinner was solemn, Vamola gave up on making Takakura eat a few minutes after Granny had finished her recount. She could feel Manjiro and Granny shooting her glances, and the food sat thick and heavy in her stomach.
Desperate to get the attention off her, Momo smiled brightly at Takakura, "S-So, Takakura! How'd we meet anyway?"
Takakura choked, spraying tea over the table in shock. Vamola gaped at her and even Granny and Manjiro looked surprised.
"What? What'd I do?"
"You-You don't call me Takakura," He choked out, "It's- Shocking. To hear."
"I don't?" Momo asked hesitantly, "What… Do I call you then?"
He adjusted his glasses, "Okarun. Since the day we first met, you've always called me Okarun."
"'Okarun'? But that sounds so silly…"
Takakura's lips curled up at the corners and something about that small, shaky smile took Momo's breath away. "Well… You did say I was never allowed to use my real name around you ever again."
Granny muffled a laugh, watching them both gleefully. Momo raised an eyebrow and looked back at Takakura, "Why'd I say that?"
His smile grew, a tiny, charming grin and he said, "Because my name is Ken. Ken Takakura."
Momo choked, what felt like every drop of blood rushed to her face as she watched Takakura, Ken. His name is Ken Takakura, smile at her. She screamed, hands thrown up in self defence against him and his face and his name.
"Okarun! That sounds good, haha! No reason to mess with a good thing right?"
Taka- Okarun, laughed softly. "Yeah, I thought you'd say that."
She risked a glance at him and almost died, he was slouched forward, hair messy over his forehead as he fiddled with his glasses, eyes soft and warm with a small smile. She needed a distraction, a subject change. Now.
"Aliens!" It burst out overly loud, "You an' Jiji brought up aliens right Granny? Do we know any? Besides Vamola, I mean."
"Oh, yes." Okarun answered, "There's Mr Rokuro, a Serponian and Mr Mantis and his son. They're Mantisians."
"Mr Mantis… Is a Mantisian."
"Well," Okarun cleared his throat, "In Japanese, his name would translate to 'Peeny Weenie,' so."
"Is that a joke?"
"I'm afraid not."
Momo dropped her head in her hands and gave up on ever understanding what the hell was going on. "Well maybe one of them alien's knows a way to fix people's memories?"
Okarun gasped, "Miss Ayase you're a genius!"
"Oh! You think so? T-Thanks Okarun."
For a second, Okarun stared at her in shock before he pushed his glasses up and nodded tightly. That was the first time, Momo realised, That I called him Okarun casually instead of Takakura. Is that why?
Okarun had turned to Granny and Manjiro, they had immediately fallen into a discussion about visiting a… Konbini? And a dairy farm? She resigned herself to being totally lost and started packing the leftovers back into their containers. On her second trip from the table to the fridge with leftovers, Okarun grabbed the containers, smiling tightly at her as he muttered, "Please, Miss Ayase, let me help."
There was something familiar about it, Okarun helping her shuffle things around in the fridge, grabbing the dirty dishes while she filled the sink, a comfortable rhythm that she could almost fall back into. He joined her in the kitchen, silent and steady as she washed and he dried. Manjiro and Granny were talking, something about a shrine cleaning? And Vamola had tromped upstairs to change with a heartfelt groan. She couldn't help but sneak glances at him, Okarun, his forearms were muscular and he had big hands. Dark, messy hair and glasses.
How do I know you? She thought, scrubbing harder, Where did we meet? And why?
"Are you alright Miss Ayase?" Okarun asked her quietly as he put away the last bowl, he was so careful. The dishes barely made a noise when he moved them, he was so careful, it made something warm and soft twist in her gut.
"Aside from," She waved a soapy hand around vaguely, "Everything? I'm fine, I guess."
"Miss Seiko has a lot of contacts, I'm sure she'll be able to find someone who can help. And even if she can't," Okarun nodded to himself, "We're all still your friends and we'll help support you! So, you aren't alone Miss Ayase, please rely on us if you get scared or confused."
Woah, Momo thought, heart racing, Okarun looks like a dependable guy somehow…
The sink gurgled as she drained the water, too flustered to look at him. Her hands were shaking when she dried them off.
"Oh," Okarun gasped quietly, "Saying something like that when I'm a stranger to you, I apologise if I made you uncomfortable Miss Ayase."
"No! You didn't make me uncomfortable! It's just- I was thinkin' y'know, since weird stuff like aliens and yokai and curses and such are all real. Maybe other stuff is too."
"Other stuff?" Okarun asked quietly, head tipped to the side just enough to look at her from the corner of his eye.
"Yeah! Like. Like um." Momo fidgeted with the hem of her skirt. "Look uh, I know I don't remember jack. And what I do remember is mad outdated, but-" She forced herself to look at him, trying to peer through the reflected light on his glasses to meet his eyes. "But when I look at you, I feel like my heart is gonna race right outta my chest. And- And when you look at me, sometimes you look like you wanna cry. So I- I wanted to tell you.
"I'm pretty sure I'm in love with you."
Okarun gasped, stumbling back a step. She followed him, "As soon as I saw you it was like, bam, this person is important. I didn't even feel that way about Granny. And then, during dinner, when Vamola kept touching ya. It really pissed me off y'know!"
"O-Oh-"
"And no matter how I try to explain it to myself, there's only one reason I can think of, for why I'd react like that. So, so I wanted to tell you."
Her voice trailed off and Okarun shook himself like a dog, "M-Miss Ayase, there's… I always thought that, that hearing you say that would make me the happiest man in the world but." He ran a shaking hand through his hair. "But you don't know me and, forgive me but, I can't. I can't trust your emotions right now."
"I get it…" Momo whispered, fiddling with her hair, "I just- I had to tell you, not just cause. Cause of what I feel but because… What if we could use this?"
Okarun made a confused noise and she dragged in a shaky breath, stepped into his space, crowding him back towards one of the columns separating the kitchen and main room. She was blushing almost as much as him but desperation pushed her forward.
"Like, okay, it's silly but… Curses and blessings are real, why not something like this? True Love's Kiss? We could- We could at least try."
Okarun didn't have anywhere else to go, back pressed flush to the column as she raised shaking hands. Dared to rest them on his chest, feel his heart racing. It was easy, to lean in, rising to her tiptoes as she angled her face. Okarun's lips were wet from where he'd licked them and something hungry in her wanted to taste them.
A large, callused hand clamped over her mouth, fingers curled around her jaw, and Okarun met her eyes impassively.
"You're not Miss Ayase, are you?"